A Short History of the World by H. G. Wells

Page 1 of 197

Produced by Donald F. Behan

A Short History of the World Illustrated

H. G. Wells

J. J. Little & Ives Company

New York

1922

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PREFACE

This SHORT HISTORY OF THE WORLD is meant to be read straightforwardly almost as a novel is read. It gives in the most general way an account of our present knowledge of history, shorn of elaborations and complications. It has been amply illustrated and everything has been done to make it vivid and clear. From it the reader should be able to get that general view of history which is so necessary a framework for the study of it particular period or the history of a particular country. It may be found useful as a preparatory excursion before the reading of the author's much fuller and more explicit _Outline of History_ is undertaken. But its especial end is to meet the needs of the busy general reader, too driven to study the maps and time charts of that _Outline_ in detail, who wishes to refresh and repair his faded or fragmentary conceptions of the great adventure of mankind. It is not an abstract or condensation of that former work. Within its aim the _Outline_ admits of no further condensation. This is a much more generalized History, planned and written afresh.

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE I. THE WORLD IN SPACE 1 II. THE WORLD IN TIME 5 III. THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE 11 IV. THE AGE OF FISHES 16 V. THE AGE OF THE COAL SWAMPS 21 VI. THE AGE OF REPTILES 26 VII. THE FIRST BIRDS AND THE FIRST MAMMALS 31 VIII. THE AGE OF MAMMALS 37 IX. MONKEYS, APES AND SUB-MEN 43 X. THE NEANDERTHALER AND THE RHODESIAN MAN 48 XI. THE FIRST TRUE MEN 53 XII. PRIMITIVE THOUGHT 60 XIII. THE BEGINNINGS OF CULTIVATION 65 XIV. PRIMITIVE NEOLITHIC CIVILIZATIONS 71 XV. SUMERIA, EARLY EGYPT AND WRITING 77 XVI. PRIMITIVE NOMADIC PEOPLES 84 XVII. THE FIRST SEA-GOING PEOPLES 91 XVIII. EGYPT, BABYLON AND ASSYRIA 96 XIX. THE PRIMITIVE ARYANS 104 XX. THE LAST BABYLONIAN EMPIRE AND THE EMPIRE OF DARIUS I 109 XXI. THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE JEWS 115 XXII. PRIESTS AND PROPHETS IN JUDEA 122 XXIII. THE GREEKS 127 XXIV. THE WARS OF THE GREEKS AND PERSIANS 134 XXV. THE SPLENDOUR OF GREECE 139 XXVI. THE EMPIRE OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT 145 XXVII. THE MUSEUM AND LIBRARY AT ALEXANDRIA 150

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